Career and Education Opportunities for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics in Santa Clarita, California

There are many career and education opportunities for mobile heavy equipment mechanics in the Santa Clarita, California area. There are currently 13,100 jobs for mobile heavy equipment mechanics in California and this is projected to grow 18% to about 15,500 jobs by 2016. This is better than the national trend for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, which sees this job pool growing by about 8.7% over the next eight years. In general, mobile heavy equipment mechanics diagnose, adjust, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and surface mining.

The income of a mobile heavy equipment mechanic is about $25 per hour or $53,520 yearly on average in California. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $20 hourly or $42,820 annually on average. Compared with people working in the overall category of Heavy Transport Equipment, people working as mobile heavy equipment mechanics in California earn more. They earn more than people working in the overall category of Heavy Transport Equipment nationally.

There are 210 schools of higher education in the Santa Clarita area, including one within twenty-five miles of Santa Clarita where you can get a degree to start your career as a mobile heavy equipment mechanic. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics usually hold a post-secondary certificate, so you can expect to spend a short time training to become a mobile heavy equipment mechanic if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, mobile heavy equipment mechanics diagnose, adjust, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and surface mining.

Mobile heavy equipment mechanics repair and remove damaged or worn parts. They also repair and troubleshoot electrical systems. Equally important, mobile heavy equipment mechanics have to overhaul and test equipment to insure operating efficiency. They are often called upon to clean and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles. They are expected to operate and inspect heavy apparatus to diagnose defects. Finally, mobile heavy equipment mechanics research, order, and maintain parts inventories for services and fixes.

Every day, mobile heavy equipment mechanics are expected to be able to twist and stretch their arms and legs to get work done. They need to maintain precise control of objects and devices through a range of movements. It is also important that they coordinate both hands in a single activity.

It is important for mobile heavy equipment mechanics to adjust and maintain industrial machinery, using control and regulating devices. They are often called upon to schedule maintenance for industrial apparatus and equipment, and keep equipment service records. Somewhat less frequently, mobile heavy equipment mechanics are also expected to direct staff who are assembling or disassembling equipment or cleaning parts.

Mobile heavy equipment mechanics sometimes are asked to test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to insure proper performance and adherence to manufacturers' specifications. and diagnose faults or malfunctions to establish required fixes, using engine diagnostic equipment such as computerized test equipment and calibration devices. And finally, they sometimes have to repair and troubleshoot electrical systems.

Like many other jobs, mobile heavy equipment mechanics must be thorough and dependable and be reliable.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic Training

Mt San Antonio College - Walnut, CA

Mt San Antonio College, 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789-1399. Mt San Antonio College is a large college located in Walnut, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 30,439 students. Mt San Antonio College has an associate's degree and a two to four year program in Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita, California photo by Guillaume h

Santa Clarita is situated in Los Angeles County, California. It has a population of over 169,500, which has grown by 12.2% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Santa Clarita, 137, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Santa Clarita are valued at $396,800 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, one hundred ten new homes were built in Santa Clarita, down from one hundred ninety-eight the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Santa Clarita are educational services, health care, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and public administration. The average travel time to work is about 33 minutes. More than 29.1% of Santa Clarita residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 8.8%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Santa Clarita is 7.8%, which is less than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of Santa Clarita residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 58.1%, is more than both the national and state average. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the LDS (Mormon) Church.

Santa Clarita is home to the Monogram Ranch and the Placeritos Ranch as well as William S Hart Park and Almendra Park. Shopping centers in the area include River Oaks Shopping Center, Granary Square Shopping Center and Lyons Station Shopping Center.